The Bulldog Breed

The Bulldog Breed

1962 - United Kingdom

A single series of seven comedies starring Donald Churchill as Tom Bowler, an engaging young man with a gift for creating havoc, was created by former Coronation Street producer Derek Grainger and the first episode was written by Peter Eckersley. But for the rest of the series Grainger employed the services of experienced 'Street' writers Harry Driver and Jack Rosenthal. Driver supplied the storylines and Rosenthal put the words in the mouths of Bowler and the rest who included Peter Butterworth, Betty Huntley-Wright, Geoffrey Whitehead and Geoffrey Palmer, all of whom suffer the consequences of Tom, the perennial optimist, as he wanders through life leaving chaos in his wake totally oblivious to the problems he causes for everyone. His girlfriend Sandra somehow manages to find ways of coping with his attitude to life. 

The Coronation Street link was completed by giving the co-starring role (that of girlfriend Sandra), for the first time to young Amanda Barrie, later to become 'The Streets' Alma Sedgwick/Baldwin. 

Published on November 30th, 2018. Written by Laurence Marcus for Television Heaven.

Read Next...

Freedom in September

A Soviet musician is missing from his hotel. He wanders through 1962 London trying to contact people he has met and known in Russia. Who are these people? What lies behind his desperate search?

Also starring Amanda Barrie

Carry On Cleo

In this hilarious and defining Carry On film, two enslaved Britons are taken to Rome. One of them is mistaken for a fighter, and gets drafted into the Royal Guard to protect Caesar. "Infamy! Infamy! They've all got in-for-me!"

Also starring Amanda Barrie

Steptoe and Son

Sitcom about a father and son who are stuck in an eternal relationship.

Also released in 1962

The Virginian

Set on the Shiloh Ranch in Medicine Bow, Wyoming, the stories centred around the ranch foreman known only as The Virginian and his impulsive young friend, Trampas.

Also released in 1962

Absolutely Fabulous

Developed from a sketch in the TV series French and Saunders in which Saunders played a baseball capped parent berated by her prim and proper daughter (French), the pilot episode was greeted by one TV executive with the comment, "I don't think women being drunk is funny."

Also tagged Sitcom

Man of the World

Armed with camera, typewriter and a trained eye for the unusual and newsworthy, freelancer Mike Straight enjoyed a glamorous lifestyle that continuously saw him getting involved in cases of blackmail, espionage and murder.

Also released in 1962

Citizen James

Sid James in his first TV series after Hancock. Written by Galton and Simpson.

Also tagged Britcom